AB still regarded as A+ even with the gloves

The omission of Ian Bell from England's tour of South Africa might conceivably have brought his Test career to an end, which makes Warwickshire's 6/1 chance as Championship winners an intriguing bet

Joe Root is fancied by bet365.com to be England's leading run scorer in the first innings of the first Test in Abu Dhabi

England's slow-bowling cupboard looks bare because of the tournament's spinner-unfriendly pitches and its sapping and lopsided schedule

Hampshire have preserved their Division One status on the final day of the season after defeating Nottinghamshire by eight wickets at Trent Bridge

Sussex began their innings needing to bat out 92 overs for the draw or score 309 runs to win. They never looked like reaching either objective

Should Sussex avoid defeat against Yorkshire, who already possess a lead in excess of 300, they may celebrate as if the pennant itself had returned to Hove and its sea-scented air

Somerset collapsed against the spin of Jeetan Patel 24 hours after securing their First Division future to give Warwickshire a chance of victory on the final day

Middlesex left New Road not knowing whether there will be a big price to pay for a crushing defeat by an innings and 128 runs by relegated Worcestershire

Tom Cooper and Jack Leach bowled Somerset to victory in their final Championship game of the season against Warwickshire at Taunton